As a Labour councillor who has campaigned for over a decade to get developers to fit “swift bricks” to new buildings, I found the decision by my party’s government to block this very upsetting (Labour blocks proposal for ‘swift bricks’ in all new homes, 23 May).
As cabinet member for the environment and climate change, I was instrumental in the decision of Bury council last year to mandate that all new buildings be fitted with swift bricks. This year I’ve only seen four swifts over where I live in Prestwich. I used to see dozens, and was delighted to hear their screams as they flew over my garden.
What is my party so afraid of? The £35 charge on each new house from the building lobby? Being seen as “woke”? Myopic decisions like this one make a mockery of Labour’s pledges on the environment.
For thousands of years swifts have migrated from Africa to spend their summers with us, but gradually their traditional nesting places in the nooks and crannies of old buildings have gone. Their numbers have declined by more than 60% in the last few decades. The government should reverse this shortsighted decision as soon as possible to prevent further embarrassment and losing voters to the Greens and Liberal Democrats.
Alan Quinn
Prestwich, Greater Manchester
• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
